Columbine Vineyards Remains Focused On Environmentally Responsible Business Practices

Columbine Vineyards, a growing company with a focus on family, sustainability, and quality, continues to demonstrate its leadership in environmentally responsible business practices.  The company remains committed to reducing their carbon footprint and water usage.

The carbon footprint reduction practices at Columbine Vineyards are as important in the processing facilities and offices as it is in the fields.  They have recently invested in new technology with the conversion to a paperless way of doing business with vendors, contractors, and employees.  In addition, all interior and exterior lighting fixtures have been upgraded to save energy. 

In their new cold-storage facility they have installed three times the recommended insulation and use the newest, most efficient battery recharging system for their forklifts.  The LED lighting throughout the facility is motion sensor activated in order to use less electricity which also lowers carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

“In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, we have decreased our water usage by 33 percent in the refrigeration system by reprogramming the refrigeration coil defrost cycles through the use of VFD (variable frequency drive) water pumps,” said John Carter, Columbine Vineyards’ Facilities Director.

Columbine Vineyard’s sustainability initiatives can also be seen on their farms.  Columbine uses minimum tillage practices; after planting of the vines conventional tillage practices such as disking, chiseling and leveling are not done.  Instead a more “permanent” row middle is established that incorporates a vegetative and mulch layered strip which reduces dust, soil compaction and allows the tractors to move though the vineyard.  They also developed a vine row with a large amount of organic matter that creates an environment that is optimal for root growth and uptake of water and nutrients.  This growing of large healthy vines have a much higher “net CO2 gas exchange rate” which increases the output of oxygen.

Columbine Vineyards sustainability improvements also includes recycling on the farm, whether it be plastics, paper or corrugated material.  These items are sorted, separated, and baled for recycling which has greatly reduced the amount of material that was previously sent to the landfill.  The company also reuses bulk containers and have consolidated truckloads to and from the field to minimize miles traveled.  This saves fuel and reduces congestion.  The farm properties are highly contiguous, which also reduces travel and time spent moving equipment and people to perform farming activities.

Columbine has further decreased water usage on their farms by upgrading the irrigation systems with newer more efficient equipment.  The conversion of diesel powered wells to new electric motors, uses less power and reduces air pollution.  By changing out the older motors, pumps and filters on existing low volume irrigation systems, it ensures water is distributed to the crop more evenly.  “This increase in distribution uniformity has reduced the amount of water needed in order to meet crop demand,” said Billy Wiswall Columbine Vineyards’ Agronomist.

Columbine Vineyards is a third generation family-owned and operated table grape grower, packer, and shipper located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Source: Columbine Vineyards